Malabar Hill Constituency

Malabar Hill Constituency (185):

Starting from sea, south of Haji Ali Dargah to Vatsala Desai Chowk (Haji Ali Chowk) then through Keshavrao Khade Marg upto Western Railway Tracks coming south along the Railway Tracks up to Grant Road Railway Station, then turning East through M Shaukat Ali Road (Grant Road) then turning South to Trimbak Parashuram Street, then crossing Sardar Vallabhai Patel Road to Ardeshir Dady Street, then turning South – East on Vitthalbhai Patel Road, then turning South – West to B. Jaykar Marg (Thakurdwar Road) crossing Western Railway Tracks an then crossing J. Podar Road crossing Marine Drive to sea.

Malabar Hill at a Glance

Malabar Hill, a small hillock in southern Mumbai, most known for the Walkeshwar Temple which houses the Banganga Tank. Situated at a height of 50 metres, one of the highest point in South Mumbai.

Origin of the Name

In the initial days of Bombay's development, the city was plagued by pirates from the Malabar Coast (Kerala) among others. In order to protect the city, a lookout was built on the hill, which provided the best view of the sea approaches to the city. Thus, the hill came to be called Malabar Hill.

History

Malabar Hill is the location of the Walkeshwar Temple, founded by the Silhara Kings. The original temple was destroyed by the Portuguese, but rebuilt again in 1715 by Rama Kamath, and by 1860, 10 to 20 other temples were built in the region. MountStuart Elphinstone, built the first Bungalow in Malabar Hill, while he remained the Governor of Mumbai from 1819 to 1827.

Overview

The Banganga Tank, attached to the Walkeshwar Temple, is the oldest standing structure in Mumbai. Hindu mythology has it that Lord Rama, on his way to Sri Lanka to rescue his kidnapped wife, Sita felt thirsty and stopped at the location of the Banganga Tank and shot an arrow into the ground. A water fountain erupted and Rama quenched his thirst. It is believed that the very same hole in the ground still fills the Banganga tank till today. A Jain temple dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara, and the Parsi Tower of Silence are two other religious structures in this district. Malabar Hill is the location of the parks: the Hanging Garden of Mumbai, Kamala Nehru Park and Priyadarshini Park, which is adjacent to the Arabian Sea.

The Malabar Hill district is arguably the most exclusive residential area in Mumbai, and is home to several business tycoons and film personalities. Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor and the bungalow "Varsha", which is the official residence of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra are located here. Houses here are amongst the most expensive in the world. An unhindered view of Back Bay, with the Girgaum Chowpatti beach in the foreground, and the Nariman Point skyline in the background is one of the reasons for the sky-real-estate prices in this district.

Also of note in the Malabar Hill district, there is a cremation ground that sits near the sea which is home to the samadhi shrines of several famous Indian saints. Notably among them is the samadhi shrine of the guru of Shri Nisargadatta Maharaj, who was Shri Siddharameshwar Maharaj, as well as the samadhi shrine of his devoted disciple Shri Ranjit Maharaj.